SUPPORT AND INSERT FOR ATTACHING A MODULE TO A TYRE WALL

• US 20110315292A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), Societe De Technologie Michelin (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Gougnaud, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/450
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45262 Pin, post and receiver

Abstract

An attachment support, which is designed for attaching a module to a wall (101) of a tyre (100), includes a substantially flexible body (11) of substantially elongate shape. The body (11) includes a connecting surface (26) capable of being placed substantially permanently against an internal wall (101) of the tyre (100), a second, free surface (28) opposite to the connecting surface (26), and at least one substantially cylindrical housing (20). The housing (20) has an axis at right angles to the second, free surface (28) of the body (11) and is open on the second, free surface (28). The housing (20) includes a first substantially cylindrical portion (22) extended by a chamber (21) of substantially cylindrical shape and coaxial with the first portion (22). The chamber (21) has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first portion (22) of the housing (20).

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An attachment support for attaching a module to a wall of a tyre, the attachment support comprising:

a substantially flexible body of a substantially elongate shape, the body including;

a connecting surface configured to be placed substantially permanently against a wall of a tyre, and

a second, free surface opposite to the connecting surface; and

at least one substantially cylindrical housing disposed in the body, an axis of the housing being at right angles to the second, free surface of the body, wherein

the housing is open on the second, free surface,

the housing includes a first portion that is substantially cylindrical and that is extended by a chamber of a substantially cylindrical shape, the chamber being coaxial with the first portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first portion.

15. The attachment support according to claim 14, wherein the body is formed of rubbery materials.

16. The attachment support according to claim 14, wherein the connecting surface includes an adhesive.

17. The attachment support according to claim 14, further comprising a peripheral edge attached to the body, the peripheral edge including a top surface connected to the connecting surface at a junction, wherein the top surface and the connecting surface form an angle (α

) at the junction, and wherein the angle (α

) is between 9 and 15 degrees.

18. The attachment support according to claim 14, further comprising a peripheral edge attached to the body, the peripheral edge including a top surface connected to the connecting surface at a junction, wherein the top surface and the connecting surface form an angle (α

) at the junction, and wherein the angle (α

) is between 10 and 12 degrees.

20. The tyre according to claim 18,

wherein the connecting surface is formed of a first rubbery mixture,

wherein a portion of the wall of the tyre at which the attachment support is positioned is formed of a second rubbery mixture, and

wherein a modulus of elongation at 10% of the first rubbery mixture of the connecting surface is at most equal to a modulus of elongation at 10% of the second rubbery mixture of the portion of wall of the tyre at which the attachment support is positioned.

19. A tyre comprising an attachment support, wherein the attachment support includes:

a substantially flexible body of a substantially elongate shape, the body including;

a connecting surface configured to be placed substantially permanently against a wall of the tyre, and

a second, free surface opposite to the connecting surface; and

at least one substantially cylindrical housing disposed in the body, an axis of the housing being at right angles to the second, free surface of the body, wherein

the housing is open on the second, free surface,

the housing includes a first portion that is substantially cylindrical and that is extended by a chamber of a substantially cylindrical shape, the chamber being coaxial with the first portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first portion.

21. An attachment insert for attaching to an attachment support that includes a substantially flexible body of a substantially elongate shape and configured to be placed substantially permanently against a wall of the tyre, and a substantially cylindrical housing disposed in the body, the housing being open on one end, and the housing including a first portion that is substantially cylindrical and that is extended by a chamber of a substantially cylindrical shape, the chamber being coaxial with the first portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first portion, the attachment insert comprising:

an elongate cylindrical body; and

an attachment head of substantially cylindrical shape extending from an end of the cylindrical body,

wherein a diameter of the attachment head is greater than a diameter of the cylindrical body, and

wherein the attachment head and the cylindrical body fit within the housing of the attachment support such that the attachment head is accommodated in the chamber of the housing, and the cylindrical body is accommodated in the first portion of the housing.

22. The attachment insert according to claim 21, further comprising, an assembly element shaped to interact with and attach to a bore opening in the cylindrical body, wherein the assembly element interacts with and attaches to the bore opening in the cylindrical body to attach an electronic module to the attachment insert.

23. The attachment insert according to claim 22, wherein the assembly element interacts with and attaches to the bore opening in the cylindrical body by any of:

screwing, clipping, bonding, force-fitting, magnetism, and coupling.

24. The attachment insert according to claim 22, wherein the bore opening is provided with an axial internal thread suitable for receiving a threaded screw.

25. The attachment insert according to claim 21, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the attachment head and the diameter of the cylindrical body is between 1.1 and 1.3.

26. The attachment insert according to claim 21, wherein the cylindrical body includes a first zone adjacent the attachment head and a second zone adjacent the first zone, and wherein a diameter of the first zone is less than a diameter of the second zone.

27. An assembly for attaching a module to a wall of a tyre, the assembly comprising:

an attachment support; and

an attachment insert,

wherein the attachment support includes;

a substantially flexible body of a substantially elongate shape, the body including;

a connecting surface configured to be placed substantially permanently against a wall of a tyre, and

a second, free surface opposite to the connecting surface, and

at least one substantially cylindrical housing disposed in the body, an axis of the housing being at right angles to the second, free surface of the body, wherein

the housing is open on the second, free surface,

the housing includes a first portion that is substantially cylindrical and that is extended by a chamber of a substantially cylindrical shape, the chamber being coaxial with the first portion and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first portion, and

wherein the attachment insert includes;

an elongate cylindrical body, and

an attachment head of substantially cylindrical shape extending from an end of the cylindrical body, wherein

a diameter of the attachment head is greater than a diameter of the cylindrical body, and

the attachment head and the cylindrical body fit within the housing of the attachment support such that the attachment head is accommodated in the chamber of the housing, and the cylindrical body is accommodated in the first portion of the housing.